It was interesting to read two pieces at the same time that were so counteracting. In one case with Notes From a Difficult Case by Ruthann Robson, we peer into the life of a patient who has been failed by the healthcare workers around her. In the other case in Healing The Wounds by David Hilfiker, we can see a doctor looking back at his mistakes he has made. Although I say the experiences are counteracting, in reality, they tell the same story.
These stories paint a picture of healthcare mistakes. The patient, expecting their lives to be fixed by the physician, and the physician trying to balance all of their knowledge while helping multiple patients a day. “I am a healer, yet sometimes I do more harm than good” (Hilfiker). Not all doctors can be completely and utterly engrossed in every patients case, which is where healthcare struggles. Some patients will always take obvious precedence over others. If a mistake is made once, it should also be expected to happen again with another doctor. Noone is perfect, but there is also chunks of healthcare which have an obvious imperfection. We need to really find those imperfections so that we can give accurate diagnoses and perform the correct procedures.
I love the quote that you pulled, “I am a healer, yet sometimes I do more harm than good.” This is testament to the strength Hilfiker has to admit and process his failures. So many physicians simply can’t bear to admit their mistakes at all.